Patriotic burlap bunting…

I love decorating my mantel for the holidays, and I love buntings—so naturally I felt I had to make a patriotic bunting for the summer.  I got my inspiration from this post at Sugar Tot Designs.

I wanted it to be more rustic than cute so I used burlap and a burnt umber colored fabric instead of bright red.  I love how it looks in my great room!!

Here’s how I made it.

1. I measured my fireplace mantel and then divided the total number of inches by three (which I will call measurement A).

2. I took a paper grocery sack and cut it open and then measured the length of one bunting (measurement A).

3. Next I folded the measurement A paper sack in half and cut a half arch so when unfolded I had my desired half circle for the bunting (pattern B).

4.  I cut 2 red fabric half circles, and one blue fabric half circle using pattern B, these are your largest half circles that are your base for each bunting.

5.  Next I cut about 2 inches of the outside edge of pattern B and then cut 3 pieces of burlap, these are your middle half circles.

6.  Cut pattern B one more time, about 2 more inches, and then cut 2 blue fabrics and 1 red fabric using the newly cut pattern B, these will be your smallest bunting pieces.

7.  I sewed a zig zag stitch around the edge of the largest half circles first, in a contrasting color (cream).

8.  Then I pinned the burlap circles and pinned them to the larger circles and then stitched them together using a contrasting zig zag stitch (red).

9.  Next I pinned the 2 blue and 1 red smallest half circle to each bunting and stitched with a contrasting zig zag stitch (cream).

10.  I measured a piece of twine to the length of my fireplace mantel and then zig zag stitched (at the top of each bunting) all three buntings together.

I love leaving this up all through June and July!!  We have a family tradition of getting Old Navy flag shirts every year and taking a family picture.  Last year we took them with my bunting—and it was the perfect backdrop!!

Can’t wait to take some this year with our baby girl!!
*** UPDATE*** Be sure to check out my new, updated version with chevron fabric!! http://sewsweetcottage.blogspot.com/2013/05/happy-memorial-day.html

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